On the rocks
The Kingdom of Kandy in the earliest times was known as Kanda Uda Pas Rata
(The five counties). It was from this that the name Kandy was derived.
The Kanda Uda Pas Rata comprised the following divisions: Yatinuwara,
Udu Nuwara, Hewaheta, Dumbara and Harispattuwa.
 The
Makara Thorana carved above the lintel of the stone doorway of Hendeniya
Vihara.
Studding the entire Pas Uda Rata is a vast complex of ancient temples,
devales, rock cave shelters (Len Vihara), monolithic stone pillars and
dagobas which date back to the medieval Kingdoms of Sitawake, Gampola and
Dambadeniya.
Situated in Udu Nuwara is the rock cave temple called Hendeniya Vihara.
Also called Galgane Vihara it lies along the Kandy-Daulagala Road, (via
Peradeniya) about 12 km from Kandy. Local traditions say that this Len
Vihara (cave temple) was built at the request of Henekanda Biso Bandara
(consort of King Wickremabahu III) of the Gampola period (1357-1374), and
served as her resting place when she visited Lankatillake Vihara and Embekke
Devale in the vicinity.
 The
new shrine room carved out of the rock
Unique stone carvings
In the temple premises is a huge rock boulder which houses the cave
shelters. In front lies the old devale.
Apart from the intricate carvings found in this ancient temple - parana
vihara- an elaborate stone doorway commands attention.
This doorway is considered a fine sculpture in stone. The Makara Thorana
portrayed here lends equilibrium to the entire frontage of the cloistered
rock cave shrine.
Makara Thorana motifs
The Makara Thorana is an example of masterly ancient stone crafts: executed
above the lintel of the stone doorway. The 'Hansa-Puttuwa' motif (entwined
swan) is etched below the Makara Thorana, while above its lintel, it has
been edged in blue. This Makara Thorana is a typical archway with a pair
of Makaras in the shape of some mythical aquatic species with an elephant
trunk, crocodile body, and feet terminating in fish tail, symbolic of water
fertility and life.
On both sides of the stone doorway are two figures of cobra kings, in
part human. Behind the two heads of the guard stones lie the multi-hooded
cobra heads. The decorative artistic treatment of the stone lintel with
a red background is typical of Kandyan art and sculpture.
The next noteworthy element of the stone-doorway of the old temple is
the floral design covering both sides of the doorway and the lintel. Inside
this image house (pilimage) is enshrined a sublime seated Buddha statue.
There is a stone pillar having a wooden 'Pekada' on its top (a bracket),
while the roof is paved with flat Sinhala tiles.
Moon stone
The moon stone is another masterpiece. Unlike the moon stones of the
Anuradhapura-Polonnaruwa periods which have rows of elephants, oxen, flowers,
horses and the like, this particular moon stone is simple, sans any such
elaborate carvings.
It has only a surrounding band ending in 'Liyana Vel' motifs. The shape
of the moon stone seemed semi-circular up to the 13th century. Thereafter
with the progress of time, the semi-circular design turned out to be a
full circle by the 14th century as seen in the Parana Vihara. Such moon
stones date back to the Gampola, Kandy periods, mostly to the reign of
Rajaadhi Rajasinha 18th century AD.
The ancient image house has standing and seated Buddha statues of gilded
gold. The murals adorning the cave ceiling depict Jataka stories.The reclining
Buddha statue displays a beautiful halo (Budu Resvalalla). There is also
a Poya Ge and a Seema Malaka (Chapter House).
Other priceless treasures
It is mentioned in ancient documents preserved at the temple that there
had been 991 such Viharas like the Hendeniya-Len Vihara. There is also
a priceless artifact preserved there- a Bodhi Pooja bowl of gold which
was gifted by King Rajaadhi Rajasinha. The only other such golden bowl
is found in the Dalada Maligawa. There is also a gallery of Suvisi Vivarana
comprising 24 statues of past and future Buddhas.
A life-size portrait of King Rajaadhi Rajasinha is depicted on the side
of the wall of the image house. Also preserved here is a Thamba Sanasa
(a decree) by the last King of Kandy, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe granting
lands in the neighbourhood to the temple in 1812.
New image house
The new image house on the same architectural lines of the ancient image
house was built in 1952, while the Buddha statues and mural paintings were
completed in 1986. The Makara Thorana concept is faithfully portrayed along
with the other artifacts including the golden Buddha statue enclosed in
a separate glass enclosure.
All the artistic motifs found in the Parana Vihara are well reproduced
without any flaw. This new image house has been skilfully constructed into
a rock cave shelter (like the one in the Parana Vihara) in the boulder.
It is 45 feet long , 47 feet wide and 19 feet high.
Bo Tree
Down by the side of this Len Vihara on a hillock below, stands the Bodhiya
(Bo Tree) a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura. It has a well
preserved Prakaraya.
Another relic of the past has an eerie significance. It is the Kotu
Thappaya, where people were hanged in those hoary days.
The temple's resident Buddhist monk Ven. Revata Ambanwela Gunaratana
Vidana Nayake Thera, though in his late seventies, is still strong in limb
and mind. He narrates the temple's history, chapter and verse as if reading
from some chronicle, enthralling all visitors. |
